Communities throughout the world begin the celebration for Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, on the eve of January 22, 2023 with parades and carnivals.  Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first month of the new lunisolar calendar. The Lantern Festival that falls on the fifteenth day brings an end to the New Year season, though for China and other Asian countries, Spring Festival is a week-long holiday.

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Though shrouded in history, some scholars believe that Emperor Huangdi introduced the calendar between 2500 to 3000 BCE. The Chinese lunar calendar is used to determine festivals, so the dates of these festivals vary each year.

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At home, many Chinese Americans celebrate by burning incense, doing special prayers, and making offerings to ancestors and traditional gods. The celebrations of Lunar New Year are diverse, reflecting various ethnic customs and the combined influences of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Chinese folk religions. Like western celebrations, contemporary Lunar New Year's celebrations include decorations, family gatherings, and big meals. Since it is celebrated in many Asian countries, New Year has become a colorful fusion of cultural traditions.

Classroom Resources 

Chinese New Year: What is it and how is it celebrated?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2023/01/09/when-is-lunar-new-year-2023-year-of-rabbit/10712258002/
Learn about the history and traditions of the Lunar New Year in China and other countries that have made the observance of the Lunar New Year a key part of
their culture.

 

Chinese New Year – For Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtbp32YyuCs

This YouTube video gives the origins of the Chinese calendar. This rich site has information about how the Lunar New Year is calculated, the 15-day celebration of the Chinese New Year, traditional foods, decorations, and customs and superstitions of the holiday.
 

Chinese New Year 2023: The Year of the Rabbit
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chinesenewyear1.html

This Info Please site says that Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese Calendar. The Chinese year 4720 begins on
January 22, 2023.

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Chinese New Year

http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-new-year

This History Channel site has background and resources on Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it's been called since the 20th century. It is the most important
social and economic holiday in China.

Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/lions-dragons-and-nian-animals-chinese-new-year
This EDSITEment site features three lessons about the most important festival in the Chinese calendar, the New Year or Spring Festival.  Primary
 

China Quest
https://chinaquest.weebly.com/index.html
This is a teacher-written problem-based learning focused on learning more about China with a focus on geography and Lunar New Year. Elementary-MS

A Lesson Plan for Chinese New Year w/ Props and Stories
https://kidworldcitizen.org/a-lesson-plan-for-chinese-new-year-w-props-and-stories/
This is a teacher-made site with many ideas and materials for studying the Lunar New Year.

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Our Favorite Lunar New Year Books and Activities
https://www.weareteachers.com/chinese-new-year-activities/
Here are 11 suggested pieces of children’s literature accompanied by activities and crafts for students written by We Are Teachers.

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